Anchoring means for lighting fixtures



Jan. 4 192.7. 1,613,169

w. A. HARVEY I ANCHORING MEANS FOR LIGHTING FIXTURES Filed June 27. 1923 f5 J9 x4 24 fa J? '9 v k 1 Patented den. 4, 1927.

filmed WILLIAM A. HARVEY, 0F SCRANTQN, EENNSYLVANIA.

ANCHORING MEANEE FUR LIGHTING FILTUEES.

Application filed June 27, 1923.

This invention relates to anchoring means means for preventing the rotation of sockets regulatable by rotation, relative to the housing of the light fixture with which they are associated.

There is, at present on the market, an electric light socket, the outer shell of which is rotatable to cut in or out a resistance unit carried by the socket for regulating the brilliance of the electric light. These sockets, in comn'ier ial use, are associated with various types of fixtures, such as portable lamps, wall brackets. chandeliers, and in fact every type of standard lighting fixtures. It has been found, however, that there is a constant possibility of t ie socket becoming unscrewed from the standard socket, which receives it, due to the rotation of the regulatable socket for regulating purposes.

It is therefore the particular object of my invention to provide a simple, compact and efficient anchoring means which may be inserted between these regulating sockets and the housings of the fixtures with which they are associated, so as to effectively prevent relative rotation or displacement between the socket and. the housings, so that when the fixture is assembled the regulating socket may be locked in place, whereupon the maintenance of the fixture in proper assembly is assured.

The invention has for its further object to provide an anchoring means capable of efiecting this desired result, which may be quickly and easily applied to the lighting fixture by, for instance, the purchaser, without necessitating the employment of a skilled mechanic or electrician.

Another object of my invention is to provide an anchoring means of this character which may be employed to anchor the regulating socket irrespective of the circumferential position of the chain guide eyelets with which the anchoring means have on gagement.

Other objects, as well as the novel features of construction of my improved anchoring device will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of an electric light fixture having my improved anchoring means shown in connection therewith;

Serial No. 648,098.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly broken away, showing an application of the anchoring means; and,

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one. of the anchoring members with the set screws removed.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig, 3. showing a slight modification.

In describing the application of my invention I will refer to a type of electric light fixture commonly known as the Wall bracket type, but it should be distinctly understood that my invention is capable of use in connection with all known types of lighting fixtures and the illustration and description of the invention herein shall not, therefore, be construed as limiting in any respect the scope of the same.

In the drawings, the wall bracket fixture comprises a wall plate 10, from which extends an arm 11, having a threaded nipple 12, adapted to receive the standard socket 13. Between the socket 13 and the rib. of the nipple 12, there is clamped a housing 14, designed to partially r complete-1y enclose the socket 13, and a socket 15, containing a resistance element, the outer shell being rotatable for cutting in or out this resistance to regulate the brilliance of the electric light bulb 16. This socket is preferably constructed in accordance with U. S. Patent No. 904,826, granted November 24, 1908.

Sockets of this character are now in commercial use and are provided with a pair of chain guiding eyelets 17, rigidly projecting from the socket 15 at substantially diametrically opposed points, the chain passing through these guiding eyelets and being attached to a projection 18. Therefore, when either end of the chain is pulled, the chain is drawn through the eyelets 17, and, by reason of its connection with the projection 18, the outer shell of the socket 15 is rotated to out in or out the portions of the resistance.

For rotating the shell of the socket 15, I preferably provide a handle constructed in accordance with my co-pending application, Serial No. 648,097, filed June 27, 1923.

For anchoring the socket 15 within the housing 14 I provide a plurality of anchoringmembers 20, preferably in the form of strap-like members, having preferably, although not necessarily, an enlarged portion intermediate its length, apertured as at 21, and threaded to receive set screws 22, formed preferably with hexagonal or other suitably shaped heads. The upper end of each anchoring member is bent to form a hookshaped end 24, while in the form of the anchoring member illustrated in Fig. the metal is cut and the cut portion bent angularly to provide a stud or projection 25. The lower end 26 of each strap member is preferably, although not necessarily, arranged at a slight angle with reference to the remainder of the strap member, so as to position the lug 25 in axial alignment with the opening of the guiding eyelets 17 with which it is assoclated. V

In practice these anchoring members will he slid inside the housing 14 with the hookshaped end thereof engaging the upper edge of the housing, the strap member being then moved to cause the lug to enter the eyelet 17. These anchoring members are rigidly secured in place by proper manipulation of the set screws 22, it being possible to rotate these screws by means of a simple wrench engaging the heads 23 thereof.

Obviously the heads 23 of the set screws may be star-shaped so that the set screws may be rotated by a screw-driver, if desired. By rotating the set screws 22, the pointed ends 27 thereof are caused to impinge the inner side of the housing 1%, thus locking the anchoring members to the housing 14, these anchoring members in turn being forcibly projected against the guide eyelets. 17 with the studs 25 projecting therein to thus effectively prevent rotation of the socket with reference to the housing 14.

While the form of anchoring member illustrated in Fig. 3 has the lug '25 thereof formed integrally therewith, still it will be obvious that the stud may be formed separately and secured to the anchoring member in any desired manner, such as the stud illustrated in Fig. 4. Furthermore, while I have illustrated two set screws 22, it will be immediately obvious that only one of these set screws may be provided if desired, and in this case it will be obviously unnecessary to widen the strap member intermediate its length.

From the foregoing it will be immediately apparent that I have provided a simple, compact and efficientanchoring means for efiectively preventing independent rotation be tween a socket and its associated housing, which may be used to advantage in lighting fixtures of practically all types. The anchoring members may be placed in position after the rotatable socket has been ccmpletely screwed into the standard socket, thus enabling the same to be secured irrespective of the radial positions of the eyelets 17.

Obvious modifications will suggest them selves to those skilled in this particular art, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes in the details of construction as may come within the purview of the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. An anchoring device for electric light sockets of the oscillating regulating type, comprising an elongated strap-like member having an overturned hook portion adapted to engage the edge of a fixture housing, a projection adapted to engage an eyelet carried by the socket, and a pair of laterally projecting arms; and set screws carried by said arms, adapted in conjunction with said hook portion to readily detachably secure the anchor to the housing.

2. The combination with a light fixture housing and a socket provided with eyelets, of anchoring members, each anchoring memher being provided with means for engaging an eyelet and said housing, and releasable means for holding said anchoring member in place.

3. The combination with a light fixture including a socket regulatable by rotation and having eyelets, and a housing therefor, of anchoring means comprising strap-like members formed with projections for engaging an eyelet and said housing, and adjustable means for securing said strap-like members in place.

l. The combination with a light fixture including a socket regulatable by rotation and having eyelets and a housing therefor, of anchoring means comprising straplike members formed with projections for engaging an eyelet, and with an overturned hook member for engaging said housing and set screw means carried by said strap-like mem her and engaging said housing for securing said strap-like members in place.

5. The combination with a light fixture including a socket regulatable by rotation having chain guiding eyelets and a housing therefor, of anchoring members each comarisinp' a stra 3 member a laterall Y GXtGDCliDo' lug formed on the lower end of said strap member adapted to enter an eyelet, the upper end of said strap member being bent toi'orm -a hook adapted to engage the edge of said housing and set screws threaded through said strap member and engaging said housing for holding said strap member in position to preven independent rotation of said socket and housing.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

lVILLIAli I A. HARVE 

